Final answer:
Individuals often marry within their racial group due to preferences for similarity, cultural expectations, and religious values. Homophily results in forming homogenous groups, limiting exposure to diverse races and ethnicities. Marriages occur within class systems, with a choice between exogamous and endogamous unions influenced by social norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals are less likely to marry out of their racial group for multiple reasons, some of which include a preference to marry similar others and the sociological concept of homophily, which limits our exposure to diversity. Particularly, homophily leads to relationships with those who are similar to us, producing homogenous groups and limiting exposure to people of different races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses. The process of marriage is strongly influenced by cultural expectations and religious values, as shown by trends indicating that Asian individuals tend to marry the most, while African Americans marry the least.
Additionally, marriage decisions often take place within a class system where there is a choice between exogamous marriages (unions of spouses from different social categories) and endogamous marriages (partners from the same social background). The rules of marriage often set norms about whom individuals should marry, balancing between endogamy and exogamy, and influenced by multiple factors including the importance of religious values.